Multiple transducer mounting

ABSTRACT

Slotted staves for sonar transducer array elements in which the forward vertical frame is slotted and individual plates for each transducer element are bolted to it. This permits the individual transducer elements to tilt vertically in the slots on removal and eliminates the rotating of the entire transducer assembly as done previously.

Unite Sates tent 1 1 Dinsmore, Jr. et al.

1451 Mar. 25, 1975 MULTIPLE TRANSDUCER MOUNTING Inventors: Daniel Dinsmore, Jr., East Lyme;

George Nelmes Williams, New London, both of Conn.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC.

Filed: Oct. 23, 1973 Appl. No.: 408,340

Assignee:

US. Cl. 211/13, 211/60 R, 211/74 R, 248/314, 340/85 lint. Cl. A47b 73/00, H04b 13/00 Field of Search 211/60 R, 74 R, 13 R; 340/8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13; 248/314 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1944 Putter .1 211/74 12/1959 Seelye 211/74 2,956,478 10/1960 Ream, Jr. et a1. 89/1816 3,142,385 7/1964 Kahlenberg 211/74 3,230,503 1/1966 Elliot, Jr. et a1.

3,474,913 lO/l969 ,lungner 3,492,633 l/1970 Massa 1 3,789,401 1/1974 Behrendt 340/85 Primary E.raminer-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-l-l. J. Tudor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard S. Sciascia; Arthur A. McGill; Prithyi C. Lall [57] ABSTRACT Slotted staves forsonar transducer array elements in which the forward vertical frame is slotted and individual plates for each transducer element are bolted to it. This permits the individual transducer elements to tilt vertically in the slots on removal and eliminates the rotating of the entire transducer assembly as done previously.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 MULTIPLE TRANSDUCER MOUNTING STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present, invention generally relates to the mounting of electronic equipment and more particularly to the removable mounting of transducer elements in which insufficient space is available for straight withdrawal of the elements.

Aboard Navy ships space is at a premium. In the AN/SQS-26 sonar array, transducer elements could not be readily removed from the athwartship staves prior to the presentinvention.

The transducer array is a toroid shaped assembly comprising 576 individual elements which are mounted on 72 vertical staves (eight elements per stave). These staves are hung from a turntable inside a steel or rubber dome beneath the bow of a destroyer.

The existingmethod for removing about 40 percent of the transducer elements, those that are in proximity to the port and starboard sides of the dome, is to rotate the transducer array. About 60 percent of the elements, those that are within the forward and aft sectors of the array, can be removed without rotating the array. Rotation is accomplishedby means of a turntable resting on a carbonfilled TEFLON bearing ring. The turntable is rotated bymeans of a hydraulic ram. Side rollers prevent lateral turntable movement; hold-down bolts and side-thrust bolts fix the turntable in place during normal use of the transducer. Seizing of bolts, galling of the TEFLON ring and general unreliability of the present system is the usual situation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a general purpose andobject of the present invention to provide improved means by which the transducer elements may be removed. It is a further object to make this means stationary. Another object is that this be accomplishhed in a fixed space not permitting straight removal. These and other objects of the invention and the various features and details of construction and operation will become apparent from the specificiation and drawings.

greater tilt angle than the preceding element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explodedview of a vertical stave and associated components;

FIG. 2 is a front view ofa portion'ofthe vertical stave of FIG. I with associated transducer elements; and

FIG. 3 is a side cutaway view showing removal of the transducer elements from the structure of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing and more particularly v to FIG. 1, there is shown a typical vertical stave 10. A link (not shown) comprisingametal strip'with a 5 bend connects stave -10 to an adjacent similar stave. Since there are 72 staves, this gives the completed assembly a toroid shape. I

Stave 10 has a forward frame 12, a rear frame 14 and connecting piece 16. Connecting piece 16 may comprise a channel piece 18 and end pieces 20 and 22. As-

sociated nuts 24 and bolts 26 connect piece 16 toframes 12 and 14.

The rear frame 14 is comprised of a channelpiece having setsof three holes with a center hole 28 and two smaller holes 30 on diametrically opposed sides of hole 28. Holes 32 for connecting to piece 16 and end piece 34with'holes 3,6 for connecting to an overhead ring are shown.

4 Forward frame 12 has a pair of angle irons 40 with studs 42 affixed to the angle irons 40. Plates 44 having an aperture 46 are affixed to angle irons 40 by means of studs 42 and nuts 48. A hole SI) is used for connecting forward frame 12 to connecting piece 16. An end piece 52 with holes 54 is used for connecting forward frame 12 to an overhead ring.

FIG. 2 shows a partial front-view ofthe stave 10 of FIG. 1 supporting transducer elements 60. The bottom element 60 is pushedouta small amount and rotated 45 to permit access for the removal of associated plate 44.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is shown a side cutaway view of the vertical stave l0 and associated com- .ponents in their environment. Overhead ring 64 is transducer elements 60 are for assistance in explaining i the removal of the elements 60 from the stave 10 in a confined space restricted by a dome 62.

For removal of transducer elements 60, the first step is the disconnection of all connections at the rear of the elements 60. This may include bolts inserted through holes 30'and associated nuts. ltjcould also include a cable going through aperture 28 with an electrical connector. There is free access to the rear of the staves which permits the transducers 60 .to be disconnected. The transducer element 60a is then slid forward and rotated one-eighth turn to permit removal of nuts 48 from studs 42 (See FIG. 2). After removal of nuts 48 the transducer element 60a is rotated back one-eighth turn and returned to its original position. The transducer element 60a and its associated plate 44 are then slid forward to dome 62. The transducer element 60a is then tilted as high as possible-on the rear of the element. The transducer element 60a can of course be supported in this tilted position by any suitable means such as a sling tying the element 60a'to any suitable support. The procedure for element 60a is then repeated for elements 60b and 60c respectively. The transducer element 60d is disconnected from frames 14 and 12 respectively in a similar manner to that of elements 60a, 60b and 600.

The transducer 60d is then slid forward with associated frame 44, tilted downward in the forward end and removed from vertical stave 10, as shown in FIG. 3. Transducer elements 60c, 60b and 60a are then removed in a similar manner. Transducer elements 60h, 60g, 60f and 60s are then treated the same as respective elements 60a, 60b, 60c and 60d with the exception that the forward ends of the elements 60h, 60g, 60f and 60e are tilted upward.

There has therefore been described a vertical stave suitable for the removal of transducer elements in a limited space not permitting straight removal of the elements.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

' 1. A vertical stave assembly comprising:

a forward vertical frame including a first angle iron having a plurality of studs, a second angle iron having a plurality of studs with said second angle iron positioned parallel to and spaced from said first angle iron and a forward vertical frame end piece located intermediate said first and second angle irons;

a rearward vertical frame including a channel piece having a plurality of groupings of three apertures having a first aperture of predetermined size and second and third apertures smaller than said first aperture on diametrically opposed sides of said first aperture and a rearward vertical frame end piece connected to said channel piece;

connecting means for connecting said forward and rearward vertical frames;

a plurality of square shaped plates with each of said plates having a circular cutout, each of said plates having cutout means for inserting said studs of said first and second angle irons for connecting said plates to said forward vertical frame;

a plurality of elements adapted to be connected to said rearward vertical frame and passing through respective cutouts of said plates, such elements being of such size so as to be rotatable when disconnected from the rearward vertical frame; and

said elements, plates and forward vertical frame adapted to be aligned so as to have the plates accessible for removal from said forward vertical frame upon said plurality of elements being rotated 45 with respect to said plates.

2. A vertical stave assembly according to claim 1 further comprising:

a grommet. providing an interface between said plurality of elements and said plates. 

1. A vertical stave assembly comprising: a forward vertical frame including a first angle iron having a plurality of studs, a second angle iron having a plurality of studs with said second angle iron positioned parallel to and spaced from said first angle iron and a forward vertical frame end piece located intermediate said first and second angle irons; a rearward vertical frame including a channel piece having a plurality of groupings of three apertures having a first aperture of predetermined size and second and third apertures smaller than said first aperture on diametrically opposed sides of said first aperture and a rearward vertical frame end piece connected to said channel piece; connecting means for connecting said forward and rearward vertical frames; a plurality of square shaped plates with each of said plates having a circular cutout, each of said plates having cutout means for inserting said studs of said first and second angle irons for connecting said plates to said forward vertical frame; a plurality of elements adapted to be connected to said rearward vertical frame and passing through respective cutouts of said plates, such elements being of such size so as to be rotatable when disconnected from the rearward vertical frame; and said elements, plates and forward vertical frame adapted to be aligned so as to have the plates accessible for removal from said forward vertical frame upon said plurality of elements being rotated 45* with respect to said plates.
 2. A vertical stave assembly according to claim 1 further comprising: a grommet providing an interface between said plurality of elements and said plates. 